Handlamp



Dec. 18, 1923. 1,477,892

A. P. PAINE HANDLAMP Original Filed June 9. '1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. P.PAINE Dec. 18, 1923.

HANDLAMP Original Filed June 9, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l giimml PatentedDec. 18, 19 23.

v UNITED STATES PAT -NroFrlcE.

ARTHUR P. PLINE, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNEQ'LICUT, ASSIGNOBIIO WIDTCHESTER BE-PEATING AIR-IS COIPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

Original application fled June 9, 1920, Serial 11 0. 387,857. Divided.and this application filed June 21, I 1920. Serial Io.- 390,538.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR P. PAINE, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of New Haven, county of New Haven,

6 and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Handlamps, of which the following is a full, clear,

and exact description.

This invention relates to hand lamps and 1 it pertainsmore especially tothose of the type set forth in my application Serial No. 387,657, ofwhich the present application is a division.

The invention has more particular refer- 15 ence to hand lamps of the tyin which a three-position switch is emp oyed, having a movable element-Which assumes one position for flashing, another sition for permanentlighting, and a third sition, termed 2 the safety position, in w 'ch theswitch is locked in an inoperative condition. In certain phases of theinvention, however, it is unnecessary that the switch have threedistinct positions, as some features of my 2 improvements may beemployed to advantage in a two-position or other switch.

One of the primary objects is the provision of improved means forclosing and opening the circuit of a hand lamp of the in- 30 sulatingcasing type.

By my invention, also, I provide effective means for preventing theaccidental lighting of the lamp when the movable switch element is inthe safety osition.

Other objects are to improve and simplify the construction and to makethe switch device compact, eflicient and durable.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features andcombina tions of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

- In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a tubularvhand lamp embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary central longitudinal section on a lar r scale,showing the switch parts in position for flashing;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary interior view of the casing-on a still lar rscale; 50 Fig. 4 1s a section on hne 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the main parts of theswitch the flash position;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the permanent light position;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the safety position;

.Figs. 9 and 10 are sections on lines 9-9 showing and 1010,respectively, of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of the member with which the pushbutton is adapted to make contact. a

I have shown my improvements applied to a tubular hand lam of the minerstype, having a casing of bre or like insulating materlal, containing theusual dr'v cells21. At the rear end of the casing the same is providedwith the customary threaded ferrule 22, onto which screws the ordinaryend cap 23, carr ing a spring 24.- that presses against the bottom oi.the rear cell. The cells, of which there arb two in the embodimentillustrated, are encased in the customary paper insulating wrapper. Atthe front end the casing is furnished with a metal ferrule held in placeby a plurality of rivets 25 passing through the fibrous casing; and onthe ferrule 25 is screwed a lens shell 26, onto which, in turn, the lensholder 27 is screwed. The lens holder supports the lens 28 and betweenthe lens and the front end of the casing is a reflector 29 having ametal socket 30 at its inner part for the reception of the lamp bulb 31.t its periphery the reflector 29 is suitably insulated from the lensshell and lens holder. The bulb 31 is located in the socket 30 in theusual manner and makes contact in the ordinary way with the centralelectrode of the front battery cell.

Located on the exterior of the fibre casing about midway of the lengththereof is a metal switch structure 33, by which the circuit containingthe lamp and dry cells is adapted to be closed. This switch structureincludes a sheet metal base plate or member 34, which serves as a guidefor a combined slide and push button structure, as herein afterdescribed. The base plate is electrically connected in a suitablemanner, as by means of a brass conductor strip 35, with the uncoveredbottom portion of the rear cell. Preferably the connection is from thecell to the sprin 24 and thence to'the end cap 23 and terru e 22, towhich the conductor 35 may be riveted, as shown in Fig. 3,

v and the conductor strip the rivet connection being adjacent the rearend of the conductor strip), as shown at 36,

aving at its opposite end a similar rivet connection 37 with the baseplate 34. From the central electrode of the front cell the circuitpasses throughthe bulb 31 to the socket 30, through. a portion. of thereflector 29, thence through a conductor strip 38 to the movable part ofthe switch structure 33, as hereinafter described.

The conductor strip 38 is arran ed within and along the side wall or theh re casing and is mounted to slide lengthwise thereof. Near its outerend portion it may be guided by one of the rivets previously men Itioned, which projects through a slot 38", as

dill

shown in Figs. 2 and 3. At its outer end the strip 38 is curved, asshown. at 39, so that the tip or extremity thereof is adapted to contactdatwise with the outer surface the reflector at say a point about midwaybe-= tween the periphery of the reflector and its central axis. When thecontact stri is in the position shown in Fig. 2 the same will makeedective contact with the reflector when the latter is placed inposition in the amp. in doing this the reflector is placed within thelens shell 26, the lens being then applied by means of its holder 27,and the reflector is thereby pressed against the curved end portion ofthe strip 38 so asto make effective contact therewith. At its innerportion the strip 38 is guided n a guide member 40 (Fig. 11);. locatedadacent a slot 41 in the fibre casing beneath the base plate 34. Theguide member 40 may be conveniently stamped up fromsheet metal and thesame has a rim portion 42 extending around the slot 41 at the outside ofthe casing. The sheet metal blank from which the member 40 isconstructed is punched downwardly to provide transverse keeper members43, 44, at the inner part thereof and a transverse contact member at theouter part thereof. The parts 43, 44 and 45 are in the nature of bridgeswhich extend across-from the rim portion atione slde of the slot in thecasing to the rim portion at the other side of the slot, the bud e 45being intermediatethe bridges 43, 44. en the member .40 has beenpositioned in the slot 41, the bridge member'45 1s substantially in theplane of the slot, but the members 43, 44 pi'oject inwardly somewhatwith reference to the casing so as to form keepers for the end portionof the movable conductor strip 38. These keepers abut the conductorstrip at its inner face. as shown in Fig. 6, and .the strip is abuttedat its outer face by the inner surface of the casing. In this manner thestrip is supports and guided effectively for movement lengthwise of thecasing. The strip is ing the slide 47. This slide 47 is of elongatedshape and is adapted to slide forwardly and rearwar'dly on the rib 46 toa limited extent. is preterabl constructed of metal with a anne ed crosssection. having integral top and side walls,

described in my application Serial lilo. 38?,65'2'. filed June 9, 1229.The side walls of the slide. near the corners of the latter arecontinued downwardly to form securing guiding lugs or projections 49.,which pass. through longitudinal slots 50 in the base plate and are bentlaterally beneath the base plate so as to hold the slide in place. Arectangular member 51 is positioned at the under surface of the guideprojection 44., and the lugs 49 pass through a central rectangularopening 52 therein at the corners of such opening, and are bentoutwardly over the face of said rectangular member. in this manner themember 51 is made a par-tot the i sliding structure whereby asubstantial bear ing of the slide on the base plate is afforded.

.At its forward portion the member 51 is bent downwardly, as shown at53, and the downwardly'bent portion is secured in a suitable manner tothe'movable contact strip 38. in the particular form shown, the portion53 is secured tothe strip 38 by means of "an insulating rast'ner. 54.The connection between the slide and the contactstrip. is preferablysomewhat in front of the keeper member 44.

' At; the central part of the base plate 34 beneath the slide 47, saidplate is provided with a slot 55 directed lengthwise of the guide rib46.' The slot 55 is adapted to (:0-

operate with the inner end portion of the 1 push button 48 carried bythe slide 47. The

push button is located within a cylindrical socket 56 in the slide 47 atthe central part thereof, said socket being formed by punching in theouter wall of the slide. The

substantially inthe plane of the guide rib socket has a bottom wall 57with a perforation therein in'which the shank 58 of button a 46. Theinner end 58 of the button carries an enlarged portion or flange 60 thatlimits the outer movement of the button by making v to co-operate withthe fixed contact member constituted by the transverse bridge piece, 45of guide member 40. When the parts are in the flash position shown inFig. 6, the

, collar 60 is located within the central portion 61 of the slot 55,which central portion 61 is rounded out and of such size as to permitthe button shank to be moved freely in an inward and outward directionrelatively to the fixed contact member 45. lVhen the button is pushedinward, the inner end thereof makes contact with member 45, which is inelectrical connection with the conductor strip 38 by virtue of thesliding flt of the conductor strip in member .40, and thus the circuitis closed. When the push button is released, the spring carries it backto the initial circuit. r

Suppose, now, that it is desired to keep the lamp lighted for severalminutes withposition and thus breaks the .out using the, hand for thatpurpose, it is' merely necessary for the operator to depress the button48 so that the projection 60 will i pass inwardly beyond the plane ofthe slot 55 (in which the said projection normally stands), whereupon aforward pushing impulse is given to the button, and thereby to theslide, to carry the parts to the position showii in Fig. 7. In thisposition, the inner endof the button shank is against the contact stripand is wedged in between the latter and the under surface of the base.

plate in the narrow front end portion of the slot 55. The contact ismaintained because the enlargement 60 on the button shank is locked atthe under surface of the base plate. This is the position for ,per-

manent lighting, and it will be observed'that the parts cannot beshifted into this position from the flash position without adepressionof the button preliminary to a forward sliding movement. As the buttonand slide go forward, the'movable contactstrip 38 goes forward also,owing to the connection between the strip and the slide member 51. Theforward extremity of the conductor strip is shifted somewhatrelativclyto the reflector 29, but the contact of the strip with the reflector isnevertheless main gained, as indicated by the dottedlines in vWhen it isdesired to place the parts in the safety position, from the flashposition shown in F ig. 6, the button is depressed and moved rearwardlyof the casing. This carries the movable contact strip 38 rearwardly,

thus moving the forward end thereof out of contact with the reflectorand thus breaking the circuit. U 11 release of the push but ton afterthe side 47 has been moved rearwa-rdly-as far as possible, the member 60moves outwardly again within a rounded portion 62 at the rear end of theslot 55.

these projections prevent a forward movement of the button and slide,necessary for carrying the .parts back to the flash position, without apreliminary depression of the push button for the purpose of disengagingmember 60 from the projections 63. It will be observed that in thesafety position shown in Fig. 8, the push button is moved rearwardly tosuch an extent that it cannot make contact withthe fixed contact member45, even if said button is depressed. Hence the circuit is interruptedat this point as well as in the locality of the reflector. In, thismanner, any pos'ibility'of lighting the lamp accidentally when the partsare in the safety position is practically overcome.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that my inventionprovides a simple, eflicient and easily assembled device, in which theshifting of the movable switch parts from the flash position to thepermanent light position or to the safety posi-' tion cannot be effectedwithout a preliminary depression of the push button, and the tact withthe reflecton and provides means whereby in the safety position thecircuit may be interrupted at more than onepoint for insuring againstaccidental lighting.

wvhich, in the safety position, is out of 0011'- Various changes may bemade in the de-- tails of the device as herein particularly de-' scribedwithout departing from the scope of the invention. as set forthin theclaims.

What I claim is:

1.'In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery therein, a bulb, a reflector incircuit with the bulb, a contact device on the casing permanently inelectrical connection with the battery, a slide member mounted on saidconnected adjacent its other end with said slidev member so as to bemovable therewith.

tact device, a depresible circuit controlling,

2. In a hand lamp, an insulating casing, I

a battery therein, a bulb, and connections between -the bulband batterycomprising a circuit controlling push button and slide structure mountedon the housing, and a lon ltudinally movable conductor strip wihin thecasing permanently connected with said combined push button and slidestructure so as to be movable therewith,

4. ln'a hand lamp, a casing, an electric battery therein, a bulb,connections between the bulb and battery comprising a longitudinallymovable conductor stri ,and a combined circuit controlling pus buttonand slide structure directly and permanently connected with saidconductor strip for shifting the same. v 5. ln a hand lamp, a casing, anelectric battery therein, a bulb, connections between the bulb andbattery comprising a longitudinally movable conductor strip, and acombined circuit controllin push button and slide structure for shi tingsaid strip havin an insulated connection therewith.

1' 6.' n a hand lamp, a movable conductor 0 strip and a combined'pushbutton and slide structure insulated from but directly con nected'withthe conductor-strip for shifting Ri the same, Y

p ,7; Inn than lamp, battery, abulb, and --.'-means to establishacircuit including said bulb and batteryfcomprising alongitudinally'movableconductor, strip, a combined push [buttonandslidestructure, a fixed contact j with which the push button co-operates, and

afdirfict but insulated connection between the if slide structure andconductor strip,

'8. In ahand lamp, a casing, anelectric battery therein, 'a bulbconnectionsbetween the bulb and battery comprising a longitudinally:movable conductor strip, a combined 5 'push button and slide structuremounted on the casing, a fixed contactwith which the I push button partof said combined push but- -;ton: and slide structure cooperates, andmeans for'connectingsaid strip'directlywith said'oombined push buttonand "slide struc- I "ture'is'o that it is shiftable bat e latte Z 9:] Inahand lamp; ale-using, an ele tric.

, tter therein,1 afbulljgfconnections' betwecn a habu b and batterycomprising Y 9 titre mounted on the a ongitudinally "movable conductorstrip mnnect ed sociated with the slide structure, and means forpreventing movement-of theslide except after an inward thrust on thepush button.

a slide struc' e the slide structure,,'a push button as;

int/neon l0. lln a hand lamp, a casing, an electric and batterycomprising a longitudinally movable conductor strip, a slide structuremounted on the casing, a connection between the strip and slidestructure whereby the former is shifted by the latter, a push buttonassociated with the slide structure, a fixed contact member with whichthe push button co-operates,and means for prevent ingi movement-of theslide except alter an inward thrust on the button.

11. In a hand lamp, a casing, an electric battery therein, a bulb,connections between tudinally movable conductor strip, a slide structuremounte'd on the casing, a connection between the strip and slidestructure whereby the former is shifted byth'e latter, a push buttonassociated with the slide structure, a fixed contact member with whichthe push button co-operates to, complete the lamp circuit, and means forpreventing 1 movement of the slide except after an inward thrust onthebutton, said fixed contact member being in permanent electricalconnection with said movable conductor strip.

12. In a hand lamp, a casing, an electric battery therein, a bulb,connections between the bulb and battery, comprising a longitudinallymovable conductor strip, a slide struoture'rnounted onlthe casing, aconnection between the strip and slide structure whereby the formerisshifted by the latter, 1 Bl, push button associated with theslidestructure, a fixed contact member with which the push; buttonco-operates to complete the lamp'fcircuit, and means for reventingmovement or the slide except a ter an mward thrust on the button, saidfixed contact member being in permanent electrical connection with saidmovable conductor strip, and said strip being insulated from sai slidestructure. 1

- 13. In a hand lamp, an insulating casing, a battery therein, a bulb,and means for conmeeting the battery and bulb, including a conductorstrip within the casing, a slide structure on the exterior 'of thecasing per-i mancntly'conneoted with said strip, a depressible buttonassociated with the slide structure, a fixed'contact member electr1--cally connected the slide with which the button makes oontact whendepressed, and

means for lockingthc slide-structure against "movement, controlled re Ph .314. In a hand lamp, an insulating casing, an electricbatteryt'herein, a bulb, and connections between the bulb and battery,in-

eluding abase plate on the casing, a slide on the base plate, aconductor strip beneath the base. plate directly connected with the 3slide. a keeper member for lruidin'n the con- -battery therein, a bulb,means for establish: 'ing an electrical connection between the bulb 80the bulb and battery comprising a longiductor strip, and a buttonassociated with theslide adapted to be electrically connected to saidkeeper member.

15. In a hand lamp, a casing, an electric battery therein, a'bulb insaid casing, and connections between the bulb and battery, including akeeper member associated with the casing wall, a contact strip guided insaid keeper member, a slide connected with but insulated'from saidcontact strip, and

a contact device on the slide co-operating with said keeper member inclosing and openin the circuit.

16. a hand lamp, an insulating casing having a slot therein, a keepermember positioned in said slot, a conductor strip guided lengthwise inthe keeper member, a plate overlyingthe keeper member and fixed to thecasing and an operating device for the conductor strip mounted on saidplate and having a contact device co-operating with said keeper memberfor making and breaking the circuit.

17. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery therein a bulb, and means forestablishing a circuit through said battery and bulb, including amovable conductor element, a. switch for completing or interrupting thecircuit through said element, and a slide to move said element andpermanently connected thereto, but insulated therefrom.

18. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery therein, a bulb, and means forestablishing a circuit through said battery and bulb, including amovable conductor element, a depressible push button to establish andinterrupt a circuitthrough said element, and a slide having a permanentconnection with said element by which the latter may be moved.

19. In a hand lamp,1 a casing, a battery therein, a bulb, and means forestablishing a circuit through the bulb and battery, including a movableconductor elementwithin the casing, a slide without the casin andpermanently connected to the con uctor element to move the latter, butinsulated therefrom, and means for establishing and interthereinfa bulb,and means for establishing a circuit throu ing a mova le conductorelement within rupting the circuit through said slide and conductorelement.

20. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery therein, a bulb, and means forestablishing a circuit through the bulb and battery, including a movableconductor element within the casing, a slide without the casing andpermanently connected to the conductor element to move the latter, andmeans upon said slide for establishing and interrupting the circuitthrough said conductor element.

21. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery the .bulb and battery, includthecasing movable tooperative and inop erative positions, a slide formoving said element and permanently connected thereto, and means uponthe exterior of the casing for momentarily passing the current throughsaid conta'ctmember when in it's operative position.

22. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery therein, a bulb, a reflector incircuit :with

the bulb, a contact device ontlie casing permanently in electricalconnection with the battery, a slide member mounted on said contactdevice, a depressibl'e circuit controlling push button carried by saidslide I member, and a movable conductor strip having one end portionadapted to enga and dsengage' the reflector and permanent y conncctedadjacent its other end with said slide member so as to be movabletherewith,.but-

normally insulated therefrom.

23. In ahand lamp, a casing, a battery therein, a bulb, means forestablishing a circuit through the bulb and battery includinga conductorstri movable lengthwise of the casing, a manual ly connected to saidstrip and by means of which it may be shifted, and movable meansaccessible at the outer part of the slide for controlling the slidingmovement thereof.

24. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery therein, a bulb, means forestablishing a cirand a locking button carried by the slideandcooperating with a fixed part of the lamp structure.

26. In a. hand lamp, a casing, a battery therein, a bulb, electricalconnections including a movable conductor strip within the 1y operableslide permanent-- casing, a slide without the casing permanentlyconnected to said strip to move the same, and a spring pressed lockingmember carried by the slide and cooperating with a fixed part of thelamp structure.

27. In a hand lamp, a casing, a batter therein, a bulb, electricalconnections inclu Ill ing a movable conductor strip-within the casingf aslide without the casing. ermanently connected to said strip to move t esame, and

common means carried by said slide to close -the circuit through thecontact strip and to lock the slide in. a predetermined position. 28. Ina hand lamp, a casing, a battey therein, a bulb, electrical connectionsinclu ing a movable conductor strip within the easing, e slitle withoutthe casing ermenently connected to said strip to shift t e same 1011- vgitudinelly or the lamp structure, and means including a. clepressiblemember on the sliole for locking the latter in either of two (listinctpositions longitudinally of the lamp structure.

29. ln at hand lump, :1 casing, e battery therein, e hello, andelectrical connections including e move-hie conductor strip Within thecaslng, it slide Without the caslng to move "the conductor strip andconnectecl in fixed relation thereto, and means movaloly mounted memos Ie light flashing device carried by able With seidjactuetor.

31.1nn hand lamp, a casing, a battery therein, a hullo, and electricalconnections including e movable circuit closing conductor strip guicletlon the interior or" the casing, an actuator for sairlgstrip permanentlyconnected thereto and accessible for manual onerntion, a light flashingdevice eccessi' le at the exterior of the casing "for manual operation.

32.. In a hen-cl lamp, e casing,ia battery therein, a hello, fentlelectrical connections including a niovnhle circuit closing conrlucandmovtor strip guiclerl on the casing, an actuator for seitl strrpermanently connected thereto and eccessihi for manual operation and ecoinloinee light flash ng and loclnng device associated with sodactuator. 1

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set 7 in hand on the 17th (lavofJune, 1920. U y r. ARTHUR P, PAINE.

